Sterile feeding unit

ABSTRACT

A sterile feeding unit for using once only and especially adapted for feeding infants, said unit comprising three main elements, a teat, a feeding-bottle and a hood for protecting said teat and, when so required, an intermediate member between said teat and said feeding-bottle, said elements and said member being joined together in a sterile and fluid-tight manner so as to form a feeding unit which is inoperative in a first position of said teat, which is ready to operate in a second position of said teat, and which is operative after heating said feeding-bottle and removal of said hood.

Seunevel [451 Mar. 12, 1974 1 STERILE FEEDING UNIT [75] Thierry BernardSeunevel, Pantin,

France Inventor:

[73] Societe Anonyme Alpha-Bebe Sante,

Pantin, France Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 Appl. No.: 174,795

Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 29, 1970 France 70.35079References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1971 Barton 215/11 C 2,793,7765/1957 Lipari 215/6 3,146,904 9/1964 Hansen 215/11 R 3,468,445

9/1969 Ballin 215/11 C UX Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Craig and Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A sterile feeding unitfor using once only and especially adapted for feeding infants, saidunit comprising three main elements, a teat, a feeding-bottle and a hoodfor protecting said teat and, when so required, an intermediate memberbetween said teat and said feeding-bottle, said elements and said memberbeing joined together in a sterile and fluid-tight manner so as to forma feeding unit which is inoperative in a first position of said teat,which is ready to operate in a second position of said teat, and whichis operative after heating said feeding-bottle and removal of said hood.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures INVENTOR T'Hl ERRY BERNARD SEUNEVEL BYmizfla tomlh s w AT ORNEYS PATENTEBIMI I2 I974 SHED 2 BF 2 FIG] INVENTORTHIERRY BERNARD SEUNEVEL Craig GAOMQQJ ATFORNEYS STERILE FEEDING UNITThe present invention relates to sterile bottle-feeding units intendedto be used for feeding infants, and more particularly a new form ofpacking for the previously sterilized teat, feeding-bottle and feedingpreparation unit.

Known bottle-feeding units comprise, generally speaking, a feedingbottle intended to contain the milk and the teat mounted on thefeeding-bottle, either directly or by means of a fixing ring.

Before beginning the feeding, each of the parts is sterilized, forexample by immersion for a fixed time in boiling water, after which thebottle is filled and the teat is put in position. These operations arelong, complicated and expensive, especially for maternity hospitals, butthey are also not practical for private persons, especially when awayfrom home. Above all, these manipulations, even when carried out withcare, present serious risks of contamination.

Pre-sterilized feeding-bottles are known which are filled with a feedingpreparation, and on which it only remains to place a teat at the momentof use. Sterilized teats are also available for a single use, inpackings which render them not very practical for handling. In all thesecases, the mounting of the teat on the feedingbottle is not eliminatedand the serious risks of contamination still exist.

The present invention has for its object to remedy these drawbacks; itrelates to a pre-sterilized complete feeding unit for a single use,which eliminates all risk of contamination.

Briefly, according to the invention, the feeding unit for a single useis constituted by three main elements: teat, bottle, and teat-protectinghood, and when so required, an intermediate member between the teat andthe bottle, these elements and this member being joined together in asterile and fluid-tight manner so as to form a feeding unit which isinoperative in a first position of the teat, a unit ready for operationin a second position of the teat and, after heating and removing thehood protecting the teat, an operative teat-feeding bottle unit.

Other characteristic features and advantages will be brought out in thetext which follows below and in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGl shows in cross-section a teat for a first form of embodiment of thefeeding unit according to the invention;

FIG.2 shows a cross-section of the feeding-bottle in this first form ofembodiment;

FIG.2a shows a detail of the feeding-bottle of FIG.2;

F [6.3 shows in cross-section a protecting hood of the teat of FIG];

FIG.4a shows a first form of embodiment of the feeding unit in theinoperative position;

FIG. 4b shows this first form of embodiment ready for operation;

FIGS shows in cross-section a second form of embodiment of the feedingunit;

FIG.6a shows in cross-section a third form of embodiment of the feedingunit in the inoperative position;

FIG. 6b shows a cross-section of this same form of embodiment inposition ready for operation;

FIG. 6c shows a cross section of an intermediate member in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG.7 shows partly a cross-section and partly a view of a fourth form ofembodiment;

FIGS is a cross-section taken along the line VIII- VIII of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which theflange of the teat and the skirt of the hood are concentricallyarranged.

Referring now to the drawings, in which FIG.1 is a cross section of theteat, the upper part of this teat is of conventional shape. Itsextremity is pierced with one or more orifices 11. It comprises at itslower portion a heel 12 which shows:

- Internally a cylindrical bearing surface 16 starting from the base 15and opening into a clearance space 13 of hemispherical shape;

-- Externally, a ring 14 forming an integral part of the heel. Thedimensioning of the heel l2 and especially that of the ring 14 arechosen in such manner as to give it excellent rigidity.

The feeding-bottle is shown in cross-section in FIG.2. It may be made ofany desired material; it may especially be produced from a mouldedsynthetic material. For example, the feeding-bottle may be moulded froma flexible synthetic translucent material having a certain elasticity inorder that, by pressing on the wall of the container, the milk can beforced out under pressure.

The feeding-bottle 20 is of cylindrical form. It is surmounted by aspout 21 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of theinternal surface 12 of the teat. The spout is closed at its upperextremity 24; it comprises at its exterior on its periphery atmidheight, a ledge 22 which may be an integral part of thefeeding-bottle and moulded together with this latter. Between this ledge22 and the upper extremity 24 of the spout 21, orifices 23 are piercedin its cylindrical wall 26 and are distributed over the whole periphery.

These orifices 23 are located above the ledge 22. The diameter of theseorifices 23 is chosen in such manner that the sum (h) of this diameter(d) and of the distance (e) of the upper edge of the orifice 23 from theledge 22 (e d h) is less than the height H of the cylindrical internalwall 16 of the heel 12 of the teat 10. It will be understood that thesize of these orifices23 and also their number are a function of thetype of feeding preparation, of the desired speed of flow, etc., Inaddition, the distance (e) should be such that the fluid-tight closureof the orifices 23 is ensured in the non-operative position of thefeeding unit due to the action of the cylindrical portion 16 of the heel12 of the teat 10 on the outer portion of the spout 21. Thisfluid-tightness is obtained by the slight clamping effect applied by theteat on the spout, the diameter of which is slightly greater than thatof the internal cylindrical portion of the heel 12 of the teat 10 (seeFIGS.1, 2 and 4a).

The ledge 22 on the spout 21 of the feeding-bottle 20 has preferably aslightly-rounded shape on its upper face 22a which shows a slightdownward slope. The lower face 22b shows a slight upward slope. The formof the upper face must ensure the easy movement downwards of the teatl0, and the form of the lower face must permit of firm application ofthe curved internal wall 28 of the teat 10 against the lower face 22b ofthe ledge 22, when the teat is in the operative position (see FIG.4b).This permits perfect maintenance of the teat during feeding.

The feeding-bottle 26 has a volume sufficient to contain apre-determined quantity of the feeding preparation 50 (F164). Thisquantity may be such for example that the feeding preparation fills thewhole of the useful volume of the feeding-bottle 20. it is then possibleto utilize feeding-bottles having the same volumetric capacity for anypre-determined quantities less than the maximum quantity mentionedabove. it is on the other hand within the scope of the invention toutilize feeding-bottles having volumetric capacities adapted to thevarious pre-determined quantities of the feeding preparation.

The hood 36 shown in cross-section in RG3 can for example be made ofplastic material, transparent or not. its upper portion 31 has the formof a goblet. it comprises towards the base a portion 32 which extendsradially from the lower extremity of the said goblet 31 and which formsa shoulder. It terminates in a cylindrical skirt 33 having a diameterslightly greater than the diameter of the body 27 of the feeding-bottle.

F1641: represents the mounted unit in cross-section, in thenon-operative position of the feeding-bottle.

The feeding-bottle 20 is filled with a quantity of the feedingpreparation 56. The teat having an internal diameter at the level of theheel 12 slightly less than that of the spout is mounted on the spout 21of the feeding-bottle, the base of the teat bearing on the ledge 22formed on the spout. in this position, the internal cylindrical surface16 of the teat closes the orifices 23 of the feeding-bottle. The teat iscovered by a hood 30, the shoulder 32 of which comes to bear without theapplication of any force on the external ring 14 of the teat 10. Thecylindrical skirt 33 of the hood fits over the top of the body of thefeeding-bottle.

An adhesive tape 40 is placed overlapping the extremity of the skirt andthe feeding-bottle so as to ensure hermetic sealing. The adhesive ischosen in such manner that it can only be applied once, thusguaranteeing the safety of the sterile packing of the unit.- it maycomprise in addition a sterilization indicator.

The whole volume comprised by the feeding-bottle and the hood issterile.

Before carrying out feeding, the adhesive strip 40 is removed and thehood 36 is then pushed on to the feeding-bottle. As the shoulder 32 ofthe hood bears on the ring 14 of the teat, the latter is pushed down toits base 15 until it rests against the top of the feeding-bottle 25, andthe upper portion inside the heel 12, following the shape of the lowerportion 22b of the ledge 22 is held by this latter against any movement,as shown in F!G.4b.The orifices 23 of the feeding-bottle then open intothe clearance space 13 of the teat. The ledge 22 formed on the spoutholds the teat in a position fixed against any pulling-off duringfeeding. llt is then only necessary to heat the feeding-bottle, removethe hood and carry out the feeding. Up to this latter operation, theteat is protected by the hood 3t) and there is therefore no risk ofcontamination.

It remains however within the scope of the invention that the feedingunit is heated in the bottle-heater before the removal of the adhesivestrip 40.

FIGS shows another form of embodiment of the feeding unit according tothe invention, in which the milk is introduced separately in the form ofpowder, while in the feeding bottle there is only sterilized water; themixture of water and milk is effected during the putting into operationof the feeding unit.

The general characteristics are the same as previously. The powderedmilk 151 is contained in the teat 110. This latter is pierced with oneor a number of slots 111, rather than holes, so that in the absence ofpressure on the teat-shield M9, the orifices are not opened.

The spout 121 of the feeding-bottle is closed at its upper part by awall 124 of conical shape intended to facilitate the fall of powder intothe feeding-bottle. For the same reason, it may be useful to provide theorifices 123 larger or alternatively more numerous.

At the moment of feeding, the operations are the same as before. Whenonce the teat has been pushed down, the powdered milk falls into thefeeding-bottle. it is only necessary to shake slightly so as to carryaway all the powder and complete the mixture.

Another form of embodiment is shown in FlGS.6a, 6b and 6c. The teat 210of generally conventional shape, is mounted on an intermediate member260 which can be made of appropriate synthetic material. This partcomprises a cylindrical wall 262 closed at its base by an upwardlydirected cone 261, and carrying at its upper portion a flange directedradially towards the exterior 263, coupled to a cylindrical part 264directed downwards, and finally by a second flange 265.

The heel 212 of the teat 210 rests on the flange 265 and is supportedwith its internal cylindrical wall on the exterior of the cylindricalvertical portion 264 which couples together the two flanges 265 and 263of the part 260. The cylindrical wall 262 comprises in its lower half aplurality of radial orifices 266. The feeding-bottle 220 is ofconventional shape. As mentioned above, it may be made of plastic,glass, or any other material. It comprises a cylindrical spout 221having a diameter such that a slight grip is produced on theintermediate member 260. The hood 230 has the same general shape as thatpreviously described.

The feeding bottle can be filled with milk or water. in this lattercase, a space defined by the internal walls of the teat 210 and theinternal walls of the part 260 is filled with a quantity of powderedmilk. At the time of packing, the unit is in the position shown in FIG.6a. in this position, the orifices 266 of the intermediate memher arefacing the internal wall of the spout 221, and are in consequenceclosed. The feeding-bottle is then isolated from the teat. The latter iscapped with the hood 230 which bears against the outer walls of thefeeding-bottle 120. Hermetic closure is obtained as before by aremovable adhesive strip 240. All the interior volume is sterile.

The same procedure is followed as previously to render the unitoperative for feeding. The adhesive strip 240 being removed, the teat210 and the intermediate member 260 are pushed in by pressure on thehood; the shoulder 232 of this latter carries with it the outer flange265 of the intermediate member. The unit in this position ready foroperation is shown in FlG.6b.The orifices 266 then open into the bottle.After heating, it is only necessary to remove the hood before proceedingto feed.

The form of embodiment of the feeding unit shown in FIGS .6a, 6b and mayalso be employed with a predetermined quantity of a feeding preparationintroduced into the feeding-bottle. in this case, the space in the teatremains empty until the feeding bottle is put into communication withthe teat through the orifices 166 by pushing down the teat. Theoperation is similar to that described for the feeding unit shown inFIGS.1

to 4. This form of embodiment advantageously permits the use of teats ofany type. For that purpose, it is in fact only necessary to provide anintermediate member 260 which permits the adaptation of thefeeding-bottle to a teat of any type and the spout of the bottle. Thus,it remains within the scope of this invention to produce intermediatemembers 260 having shapes such that they are adapted on the one hand toany type of teat whatever and on the other hand to the spout of thefeeding-bottle.

According to another form of embodiment of the unit according to theinvention, the putting into communication of the internal spaces of thetear. and the feeding-bottle is effected by rotation of the teat withrespect to the bottle. An example of this construction is shown in FIG.7which is a view in elevation, partly in cross-section, the right-handpart of the hood not being shown, and in F168 in a cross-section takenalong the plane 8 of FIG.7.

The hood 330 has generally a frusto-conical part 331 closed at its upperpart by a substantually hemispherical apex 335 and extended downwards bya first skirt 334, and then a second skirt 333 having a diameterslightly greater than the diameter of the body of the feeding-bottlewhich it covers.

According to this form of. embodiment, the first skirt 334 and the outerring of the teat 314 are provided with means which make them rigidlyfixed for rotation. They are in this case both of octagonal shape, whichenables the teat to be rotated by rotating the hood.

The teat 3111 is provided at its base 312 with a cyiindrical internalsurface 3316 opening towards the top into a space 313. This surface 316comprises in its upper portion a number of axial grooves 313 uniformlydis tributed along its circumference and opening into the space 313.These grooves constitute a flow conduit for the feeding preparation ofthe feeding-bottle towards the teat in the operative position of theunit. Its diameter is slightly less than the diameter in fact onlynecessary to provide an intermediate member 260 which permits theadaptation of the feeding-bottle to a teat to produce a slight grippingaction on this latter.

The spout 321, closed at its upper extremity 324, comprises an enlargedannular portion 326 which is engaged above the cylindrical surface 316of the teat, in the space 313 and prevents the teat from being pulledaway. It is pierced with as many radial orifices 323, uniformlydistributed along its circumference, as there are grooves 315 in theteat, so that the grooves and orifices are facing each other in certainangular positions of the teat with respect to the feeding-bottle.

The upper part 325 of the body of the feeding-bottle and the heel 312 ofthe teat comprise means which permit the rotation of the teat withrespect to the feedingbottle to be limited. To this end, the undersideof the flange 31d of the teat is provided with at least one radialparallelepiped rib 317 extending from the internal surface 316 to theexterior of the flange 314. The upper portion 325 of the feeding-bottlecomprises at least two studs 327 arranged in such manner that therotation of the teat with respect to the feeding-bottle is limited tohalf the angle separating two radial orifices 325, or two consecutivegrooves 315, and that in one of the extreme positions, the orifices 325and grooves 315 are opposite each other.

The package is hermetically closed by an adhesive tape M0 arranged tooverlap on the outer skirt 333 of the hood and on the body of thefeeding-bottle, over the whole circumference. The adhesive is chosen soas to ensure complete safety.

In the inoperative position of the feeding unit, the teat is placed in afirst extreme position of rotation in which the grooves 315 are arrangedon the bisecting lines of the angles formed by the radial orifices 323of the spout. These orifices are then closed in a fluid-tight manner bythe internal wall of the heel of the teat.

In order to carry out the feeding, the user removes the adhesive strip,rotates the hood and therefore the teat in a direction indicated, up toa second extreme position, formed by the stud'32'7. The orifices 323 ofthe feeding-bottle are then in communication with the grooves 315. Afterheating in a bottle-heater, for example, it is only necessary to removethe hood 330 in order to proceed with the feeding.

In order to rotate the hood 331] together with the teat, it is onlynecessary for the flange portion 314 of the heel 312 and the skirt 334of the hood 330 to have the same general shape. In 1 16.8, the flange314 and the skirt 334 have, by way of example, an octagonal shape. inFIGS, also by way of example, the flange 314 and the skirt 334 areconcentric and are provided with grooves 318 and 328.

A unit of this type is equally suitable for containing milk and forcontaining powdered milk in the teat and water in the feeding-bottle,the mixture being effected at the time of use.

It is possible to transpose the utilization of an intermediate member asshown in 1 16.6, to an embodiment of this type.

Other improvements and modifications may be provided without therebydeparting from the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A feeding unit for using once only and specially intended for feedinginfants, said unit comprising three main elements including a teat, afeeding-bottle and a hood for protecting said teat, said elements beingjoined together in a sterile and fluid-tight manner so as to form afeeding unit which is inoperative as a feeding unit in a firstinoperative position of said teat, which is ready to operate in a secondoperative position of said teat and which is operative as a feeding unitafter heating said feeding-bottle and removal of said hood, said teatcomprising a heel having a cylindrical internal face, saidfeeding-bottle having a spout adapted to be closed at its upper portionand provided with orifices along the lateral cylindrical periphery ofsaid spout above a ledge adapted to serve as a support for said heel soas to close said orifices in the lateral wall of the spout with saidcylindrical face for the first inoperative position of said unit, thediameter of said teat level with said face being slightly less than theexternai diameter of the cylindrical portion of said spout.

2. A feeding unit as claimed in claim 1, in which said teat-protectinghood is coupled, in the first inoperative position of said unit, to theexternal wall of the body of said feeding bottle by means of an adhesivestrip, a shoulder on said hood resting by its internal wall on a flangeof said heel, while in the second ready to operate position of saidfeeding unit obtained, after removal of said adhesive strip, by a thrustof said shoulder on said flange, the heel of said teat is applied by itscylindrical face against the lateral wall of said spout and by its lowerface against the face of said feeding-bottle, the

upper part of said heel being applied against the lower face of saidledge in such manner that a feeding preparation passes from saidfeeding-bottle into said teat.

3. A feeding unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the upper face of saidspout is closed by a conical member so as to permit the flow of powderedmilk stored in said teat into water stored in said feeding-bottle,during the setting into operation of said feeding unit.

4. A disposable feeding unit, particularly for feeding infants,comprising a feeding-bottle, a teat mounted on the feeding-bottle and,arranged from movement between a first and second position with respectto the feeding-bottle, and a removable hood for protecting the teatmounted on the feeding-bottle and arranged for movement with the teat,the feeding-bottle, teat and hood being joined together in a sterile andfluid-tight manner to form a feeding unit which is inoperative as afeeding unit in the first position of the teat, the feeding unit beingready to operate in the second position of the teat and the feeding unitbeing operative after removal of the hood in the second position of theteat, said feeding-bottle having a cylindrical upstanding spout closedat its upper end and provided with orifices along the laterialcylindrical wall of said spout, said teat comprising a heel having acylindrical internal face cooperating with the lateral wall of saidspout and arranged for covering said orifices in the lateral wall ofsaid spout in the first position of said teat rendering the feeding unitinoperative, said teat being movable from the first position to thesecond position for uncovering the orifices in the lateral wall of saidspout so as to render the feeding unit ready to operate and permitting afeeding preparation in said bottle to pass through said orifices in saidspout to said teat.

5. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein said spout is formed inone piece with said feeding-bottle.

6. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein said spout is providedwith a ledge below said orifices in the lateral wall of said spout, saidledge serving as a support for said heel so as to cover said orificeswith the cylindrical face of the heel for the inoperative position ofsaid feeding unit, the diameter of said cylindrical internal face ofsaid heel being slightly less than the external diameter of thecylindrical wall of said spout.

, 7. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein said hood is coupledin the first inoperative position of said feeding unit to the externalwall of the body of said feeding bottle by means of an adhesive strip, ashoulder on said hood resting by its internal wall on a flange of saidheel, while in the second ready to operate position of said feeding unitobtained, after removal of said adhesive strip, by a thrust of saidshoulder on said flange, the heel of said teat is applied by itscylindrical face against the lateral wall of said spout and by its lowerface against the face of said feeding-bottle so as to uncover theorifices in the lateral wall of said spout so as to permit a feedingpreparation to pass from said feeding-bottle into said teat.

8. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein the upper end of saidspout is closed by a conical member so as to permit the flow of powderedmilk stored in said teat into said water stored in said feeding-bottle,during the setting into operation of said feeding unit.

9. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein said teat is providedwith a plurality of grooves at the cylindrical internal face thereof,said teat being rotated about said spout to cause said grooves toregister with said orifices in saidspout in the second position of saidteat.

10. A feeding unit according to claim 9, wherein said heel of said teathas a flange with an outer face of a predetermined configuration, andsaid hood has a skirt portion having an internal face having aconfiguration cooperating with the configuration of the outer face ofthe flange to permit rotation of said teat by rotation of said hood. 7

11. A feeding unit according to claim 10, wherein said plurality ofgrooves are axially extending grooves and correspond in number to thenumber or orifices in said spout, said feeding-bottle being providedwith abutment means for limiting the rotational movement of said teat.

12. A feeding unit according to claim 11, wherein said teat is providedwith rib means for cooperating with said abutment means of saidfeeding-bottle.

13. A feeding unit as claimed in claim 4, in which said hood comprises askirt adaptedto co-operate with the outer face of the flange of the heelof said teat by means of a plurality of grooves, so as to put said teatand said feeding-bottle into communication by rotation of said teat withrespect to said feeding-bottle up to an abutment, until the orifices insaid spout are opposite grooves formed in the internal wall of saidteat.

1. A feeding unit for using once only and specially intended for feedinginfants, said unit comprising three main elements including a teat, afeeding-bottle and a hood for protecting said teat, said elements beingjoined together in a sterile and fluidtight manner so as to form afeeding unit which is inoperative as a feeding unit in a firstinoperative position of said teat, which is ready to operate in a secondoperative position of said teat and which is operative as a feeding unitafter heating said feeding-bottle and removal of said hood, said teatcomprising a heel having a cylindrical internal face, saidfeeding-bottle having a spout adapted to be closed at its upper portionand provided with orifices along the lateral cylindrical periphery ofsaid spout above a ledge adapted to serve as a support for said heel soas to close said orifices in the lateral wall of the spout with saidcylindrical face for the first inoperative position of said unit, thediameter of said teat level with said face being slightly less than theexternal diameter of the cylindrical portion of said spout.
 2. A feedingunit as claimed in claim 1, in which said teat-protecting hood iscoupled, in the first inoperative position of said unit, to the externalwall of the body of said feeding bottle by means of an adhesive strip, ashoulder on said hood resting by its internal wall on a flange of saidheel, while in the second ready to operate position of said feeding unitobtained, after removal of said adhesive strip, by a thrust of saidshoulder on said flange, the heel of said teat is applied by itscylindrical face against the lateral wall of said spout and by its lowerface against the face of said feeding-bottle, the upper part of saidheel being applied against the lower face of said ledge in such mannerthat a feeding preparation passes from said feeding-bottle into saidteat.
 3. A feeding unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the upper faceof said spout is closed by a conical member so as to permit the flow ofpowdered milk stored in said teat into water stored in saidfeeding-bottle, during the setting into operation of said feeding unit.4. A disposable feeding unit, particularly for feeding infants,comprising a feeding-bottle, a teat mounted on the feeding-bottle andarranged from movement between a first and second position with respectto the feeding-bottle, and a removable hood for protecting the teatmounted on the feeding-bottle and arranged for movement with the teat,the feeding-bottle, teat and hood being joined together in a sterile andfluid-tight manner to form a feeding unit which is inoperative as afeeding unit in the first position of the teat, the feeding unit beingready to operate in the second position of the teat and the feeding unitbeing operative after removal of the hood in the second position of theteat, said feeding-bottle having a cylindrical upstanding spout closedat its upper end and provided with orifices along the laterialcylindrical wall of said spout, said teat comprising a heel having acylindrical internal face cooperating with the lateral wall of saidspout and arranged for covering said orifices in the lateral wall ofsaid spout in the first position of said teat rendering the feeding unitinoperative, said teat being movable from the first position to thesecond position for uncovering the orifices in the lateral wall of saidspout so as to render the feeding unit ready to operate and permitting afeeding preparation in said bottle to pass through said orifices in saidspout to said teat.
 5. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein saidspout is formed in one piece with said feeding-bottle.
 6. A feeding unitaccording to claim 4, wherein said spout is provided with a ledge belowsaid orifices in the Lateral wall of said spout, said ledge serving as asupport for said heel so as to cover said orifices with the cylindricalface of the heel for the inoperative position of said feeding unit, thediameter of said cylindrical internal face of said heel being slightlyless than the external diameter of the cylindrical wall of said spout.7. A feeding unit according to claim 4, wherein said hood is coupled inthe first inoperative position of said feeding unit to the external wallof the body of said feeding bottle by means of an adhesive strip, ashoulder on said hood resting by its internal wall on a flange of saidheel, while in the second ready to operate position of said feeding unitobtained, after removal of said adhesive strip, by a thrust of saidshoulder on said flange, the heel of said teat is applied by itscylindrical face against the lateral wall of said spout and by its lowerface against the face of said feeding-bottle so as to uncover theorifices in the lateral wall of said spout so as to permit a feedingpreparation to pass from said feeding-bottle into said teat.
 8. Afeeding unit according to claim 4, wherein the upper end of said spoutis closed by a conical member so as to permit the flow of powdered milkstored in said teat into said water stored in said feeding-bottle,during the setting into operation of said feeding unit.
 9. A feedingunit according to claim 4, wherein said teat is provided with aplurality of grooves at the cylindrical internal face thereof, said teatbeing rotated about said spout to cause said grooves to register withsaid orifices in said spout in the second position of said teat.
 10. Afeeding unit according to claim 9, wherein said heel of said teat has aflange with an outer face of a predetermined configuration, and saidhood has a skirt portion having an internal face having a configurationcooperating with the configuration of the outer face of the flange topermit rotation of said teat by rotation of said hood.
 11. A feedingunit according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of grooves areaxially extending grooves and correspond in number to the number ororifices in said spout, said feeding-bottle being provided with abutmentmeans for limiting the rotational movement of said teat.
 12. A feedingunit according to claim 11, wherein said teat is provided with rib meansfor cooperating with said abutment means of said feeding-bottle.
 13. Afeeding unit as claimed in claim 4, in which said hood comprises a skirtadapted to co-operate with the outer face of the flange of the heel ofsaid teat by means of a plurality of grooves, so as to put said teat andsaid feeding-bottle into communication by rotation of said teat withrespect to said feeding-bottle up to an abutment, until the orifices insaid spout are opposite grooves formed in the internal wall of saidteat.